Title: Information modelling for variation risk management during product and process design

Authors: Alaa Hassan, Jean-Yves Dantan, Ali Siadat

Addresses: Laboratory of Industrial Engineering and Mechanical Production (LGIPM), Ecole Nationale Superieure d'Arts et Metiers (ENSAM), 4 rue Augustin Fresnel, 57078 Metz, France; Mechatronic Engineering Department, Higher Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology (HIAST), Barza, Damascus, Syria. ' LGIPM, ENSAM, 4 rue Augustin Fresnel, 57078 Metz, France. ' LGIPM, ENSAM, 4 rue Augustin Fresnel, 57078 Metz, France

Abstract: Different methodologies and tools are available for the management and analysis of system dependability, safety and quality. Failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) is a widely used quality improvement and risk assessment tool in manufacturing. Accumulated information about design and process failures recorded through FMEA provides very valuable knowledge for future product and process design, (Teoh and Case 2004). However, the way the knowledge is captured poses considerable difficulties for reuse. This research aims to contribute to the reuse of FMEA knowledge through a key characteristic (KC) approach. An information modelling for FMEA is proposed to facilitate the later reuse of the knowledge collected during an FMEA, and then it is integrated with the KC model. The models are represented in the class diagrams in the format of unified modelling language, (Booch, Rumbaugh and Jacobson 1999). The FMEA–KC model allows for management of KCs, reusing the knowledge about causalities and relations between KCs, and validation of design robustness using FMEA knowledge.

Keywords: failure mode and effects analysis; FMEA; key characteristics; information modelling; product design; process design; variation risk management; knowledge reuse; robust design.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPQM.2007.012412

International Journal of Productivity and Quality Management, 2007 Vol.2 No.2, pp.221 - 240

Published online: 11 Feb 2007 *

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